Amaterasu

On the Celestial Plain Amaterasu originally existed in and from the Celestial Plain, home of the Celestial Brush gods and the Celestials. As ruler of the Plain, it was a time of peace and tranquility, and Amaterasu enjoyed playing with the Celestials in the fields of the Plain. One day, however, they received a mysterious visitor; Waka, a member of the mystifying Moon Tribe that inhabited the moon. A great catastrophe had wiped out the Moon Tribe, leaving Waka believing that he was the last one, although there were two others of the Moon tribe who were alive during the time. Waka and Amaterasu became friends, leaving things peaceful once more.

However, disaster ensued on the Celestial Plain unexpectedly: Orochi appeared from nowhere and attacked the Plain. Many Celestials were killed in the onslaught. Alongside Waka, Amaterasu rushed to their rescue, but Orochi was protected by a mystical barrier that repelled their attacks. Waka was forced to flee with the surviving Celestials on the Ark of Yamato he had arrived in. As he fled, he used his clairvoyant powers to look into the future to Orochi's defeat and discovered that Orochi could only be slain by the chosen one: Nagi. Amaterasu understood and pulled Orochi down to the mortal realm of Nippon to await the birth of Nagi, who would eventually bring along the demise of Orochi.

Advertisement The Legend of Nagi and Shiranui After Amaterasu dragged Orochi to the mortal realm, they wound up near the human settlement of Kamiki Village. Orochi established his residence in the Moon Cave near the village and summoned demons from across the land to serve in his army. Orochi soon imposed his reign of terror over Kamiki Village. Using his mighty powers, he threatened to destroy the village unless a young maiden was given to him as a sacrifice every year on the night of the Kamiki Festival. Orochi consumed the soul of the sacrificial maiden, ensuring his extended longevity. Amaterasu ended up in the village proper. There she met a young Poncle named Ishaku. Ishaku was the current Celestial Envoy, a missionary sent by his people to spread the teachings of the gods throughout the land. Ishaku teamed up with Amaterasu and accompanied her on her adventures.

Things would not be easy for Amaterasu, however; the villagers believed her to be a familiar of Orochi and dubbed her "Shiranui." They believed Orochi sent the wolf to spy out a beautiful girl to be the sacrificial maiden. Due to these beliefs, Amaterasu was attacked on numerous occasions by the villagers. Despite this, she kept a watchful eye on any villagers entering or leaving the village and patrolled the streets to protect the villagers. 99 maidens and 99 years would pass until Amaterasu would finally get the opportunity to slay Orochi.

Finally, one of the chosen bloodlines, the swordsman Nagi, was born. Unfortunately, like all the other villagers, he attacked Amaterasu and thought she was a demon. Amaterasu dodged these assaults and waited for the night of the festival.

When the night of the accursed festival arrived, a white-plumed arrow would strike the house of a young maiden, marking her as Orochi's sacrifice. This year, however, the arrow would strike the home of Nami, Nagi's beloved. Nagi, enraged, ran to the Moon Cave to end Orochi once and for all.

Nagi reached the Moon Cave. Orochi appeared to consume him, but Nagi fought back with his sword and battled the demon. The battle raged throughout the moonless night, but Orochi's mystical barrier repelled every attack. As Orochi prepared to devour the weakened Nagi, Amaterasu appeared and shielded the injured warrior. Orochi then started to attack Amaterasu. The two fought wildly. Amaterasu used Celestial Brush techniques to assault Orochi's hideous form, but his barrier held fast, blocking all attacks. During the battle, Orochi severely wounded Amaterasu; however, with her last bit of strength, the goddess used her Crescent Brush Technique to summon forth the moon into the dark sky. The moonlight infused Nagi's sword with power, turning it to gold. Intoxicating Orochi with Nami's 8 Purification Sake, Nagi defeated the beast and chopped off its heads. He then plunged his sword into its back, sealing its dark spirit away. Victory came at a price, however: Amaterasu had been poisoned by Orochi and was slowly but surely dying. Nagi carried the dying goddess back to the village. The village elder patted Amaterasu on the head as a sign of forgiveness and affection. Amaterasu then took her last breath and passed away. A statue was built in her honor and was placed in front of the divine tree Konohana, the protector of Kamiki Village. Nagi's sword was dubbed Tsukuyomi and a shrine was constructed in front of the Moon Cave to keep Orochi sealed.

After her death, her Celestial Brush Powers split into 13 gods scattered across Nippon. The battle left her drastically weakened, to the point where she was only left with her original ability, Sunrise. The people's dwindling faith in the gods didn't help either, as she grew even weaker in the afterlife.

Ōkami A New Adventure Begins Little did Amaterasu know that disaster would soon befall Nippon again. Somehow, Tsukuyomi was removed and Orochi returned to plague the land. He cursed the whole of Nippon with his dark powers, even blotting out the light of the sun. Only Kamiki Village retained some semblance of normality because of the protection of Konohana and its resident Wood Sprite, Sakuya. However, the curse slowly spread throughout the village. Eventually Sakuya was forced to store the spirits of the villagers in the fruit of Konohana, as the curse claimed the village right up to the sacred tree. Using the last of her power, Sakuya awakened Amaterasu's spirit from her statue at the foot of Konohana, knowing she was the only being who could restore Nippon. Although Amaterasu's resurrection was a success, the sun goddess had lost much of her power and memories during her 100-year slumber. As Sakuya briefed Amaterasu on her mission, a very odd thing happened: a Poncle, Issun, suddenly popped out of Sakuya's kimono. It turned out Issun had been napping in Sakuya's kimono (Not for the first time apparently) and had thus escaped the curse. At that moment, a horrific roar sounds out, shaking the very ground. Hastily, Sakuya uses her last bit of power to restore her tree as best as she can, allowing it to reappear, but leaving it withered. Amaterasu needs to cut down Sakuya's fruit, but it is too high, so she goes through a portal at the base of the tree to find her Celestial Brush Techniques again, accompanied by Issun.

The portal leads to the River of the Heavens, a river of stardust across the sky. As the two explore the cliffs around the river, Issun helped familiarize Amaterasu with the environment, and gave her the nickname "Ammy". Issun also demonstrated that he knew the Celestial Brush Technique Rejuvenation and wished to learn all of them. When they reached the actual river, however, it was dried up. Exploring another path, they discovered a mysterious constellation in the sky. One star of the constellation was missing, so Issun attempted to draw the missing star. He failed, but Amaterasu used her own Celestial Brush to restore the constellation, releasing the Brush God Yomigami, holder of the Rejuvenation Brush Technique which Amaterasu once possessed. She used her new technique to restore the river and clear the path forward, but Issun remained ignorant of her ability. The two progressed to the Cave of Nagi, where Nagi was enshrined. Amaterasu repaired Nagi's statue with her brush, revealing another constellation. The god Tachigami then appeared and granted her Power Slash. Only then did Issun realize Amaterasu's brush skills. Knowing that she could find all the brush techniques, he openly declared he would stick with her until she had learned all the Brush Techniques and he had copied them from her. The two then returned to Kamiki and cut down the fruit, restoring the village.

Dispelling the Curse The village had returned to normal, but the sky was still as black as night. Exploring the quiet streets, Amaterasu discovered all the villagers had turned to stone. After hearing another roar, Amaterasu headed to a sacred deck at the top of the village. She then rediscovered her own unique Brush Technique, Sunrise, and lit the skies once more the village was then restored. There she met Mr. Orange, the town elder. After defeating the demons that were plaguing the village Amaterasu went back to the village. Amaterasu and Issun could see the villagers were now back to normal. However, the village exit was blocked by a huge boulder. Destroying the boulder would require the assistance of Nagi's descendant, Susano. Susano, however, did not fit with the traditional stereotype of his ancestor and was instead a lazy drunk. After waking him up, Amaterasu was forced to bring him sake from the village's sake brewer, a beautiful young girl named Kushi, a descendant of Nami. Eventually, with Amaterasu's help, Susano sliced the boulder in half and opened the way out of the village. Shortly after this, he ran out of the village, claiming to be in pursuit of monsters. Just then, Sakuya appeared before Amaterasu. she revealed that the curse was also affecting the Guardian Saplings, offshoots of her tree which preserved the natural beauty in their areas. She pleaded to Amaterasu to restore the Guardian saplings and lift the curse, before vanishing, exhausted. Amaterasu and Issun ventured out of the village in search of the saplings.

They soon found the first sapling, in Shinshu Field right outside the village. The mighty tree had been withered by the curse, which had spread and blocked a large portion of the field. Even Amaterasu could not stay in the cursed zone too long without losing all her powers. Monsters had been drawn to the cursed zone, and their Demon Scrolls littered the field, attacking passersby. Only one inhabitant of the field, the Nameless Man, was outside the cursed zone and had escaped the curse. Talking to him, he directed them to Hana Valley, a beautiful valley which was now cursed. However, the valley also contained a magic orb which could restore withered trees. Realizing the potential of the orb, Amaterasu and Issun ventured into the valley. Luckily the valley's curse was minor enough for living beings to withstand, so Amaterasu and Issun could explore safely. However, all wildlife had been destroyed by the curse, and the water was polluted and brown. they also discovered another withered Guardian Sapling. This sapling's curse was so great it had been reduced to a tiny little sapling. Following a path off the sapling's chamber, they discovered Susano and a sleepy bear (Later dubbed sleepy by Issun). After a short cutscene, they recovered the mystical orb (Sleepy had been standing on it) and Susano ran off again. They returned the orb to its altar and used the power of sunlight to use it on the tree, but all it did was return the tree to its withered adult state. another constellation appeared. Completing it, the god Sakigami, one of the Hanagami trio of flora gods, appeared and granted Amaterasu Bloom, a Brush Technique which could restore withered trees or make plants bloom. Using it on the Guardian Sapling, Amaterasu was able to restore it and lift the curse. The pair returned to Shinshu Field and lifted the curse there too, using Bloom on the Guardian Sapling. Sakuya's tree instantly perks up and regains its leaves, but Issun wants to explore the field before returning to Kamiki Village. Exploring the field, they find a pyrotechnic workshop belonging to Tama, the Flaming Pyrotechnist, a fireworks maker. The workshop is shut during the day, so they return at night. After helping Tama finish his latest firework, the constellation of the god Bakugami appears. He grants Amaterasu the explosive power of Cherry Bomb, which creates a devastating bomb. The two also visit the entrance of the Moon Cave where Orochi resides. However, a barrier blocks the entrance, preventing entry. Amaterasu and Issun then return to Kamiki to check on Sakuya.

When they return, they find the whole village celebrating Konohana's sudden recovery. However, Sakuya herself does not appear, and Issun fears the worst. On the sacred deck, they find the village elder, Mr. Orange, performing the legendary Konohana Shuffle which may be able to revive Sakuya. With the help of Amaterasu, he completes the dance, making Konohana blossom. It is then that Sakuya returns: in a skimpy bikini. Sakuya thanks Amaterasu and returns to her tree to protect the village. After that, another constellation appears. This time it belongs to the second Hanagami trio of flora gods: Hasugami, master of the Water Lily technique. Using it, Amaterasu can now cross large bodies of water without getting wet (her only weakness, as she can only swim for a limited time). Returning to Shinshu Field, the two use Water Lily to follow an old waterway to Agata Forest.

In the Foreboding Forest The forest has also succumbed to the evil curse. Exploring the forest, she meets Madame Fawn, a bone-reader who can predict the future. Amaterasu later finds the sapling in a cave blocked by a rock which needs a Cherry Bomb. Restoring the Guardian Sapling, Amaterasu receives a new Divine Instrument: the Devout Beads, the first Rosary. Going back outside, she hears a mysterious flute.

The sound is coming from Waka, who reappears in front of Amaterasu. However, she doesn't seem to remember him. Issun finds Waka strange, and is shocked to hear that he can see Amaterasu's true form: something only those of pure heart can see. Waka abruptly attacks them. Amaterasu defeats him, but he does not even seem tired and says she is "a big disappointment", noting she has lost most of her powers. He then tells them about Orochi's release, stating that he saw a strange figure remove Tsukuyomi. He also says that it is the same person who blocked off Kamiki with a rock and that person was inside the village when the curse struck. He then leaves a cryptic prophecy for Amaterasu about a log which he says will help her in her current quest and flies of using his curious headgear. Issun dismisses him as a freak.

Exploring the green and peaceful forest, they meet a hunter named Karude. Karude tells them that the bridge to the next area, Taka Pass, was destroyed in a recent storm. Karude is trying to get his slacking son to fix the bridge, but the son is too busy playing with his dog, Ume, to do it. They also find Susano, who is training to defeat a powerful demon menacing Taka Pass rumored to have 100 followers, crimson something or other(Crimson Helm). However, he cannot reach the pass until the bridge is fixed.

Amaterasu and Issun find the son, Kokari, fishing at the lake in the forest. Kokari reveals that he has lost Ume in the ruins at the edge of the forest, Tsuta Ruins, and is trying to rescue him. Issun asks him why he doesn't just go into the ruins, and Kokari reveals he also lost the key to the forest when he ran out of the ruins after hearing some terrifying roars and left Ume behind. he then lost all his fishing line and hooks trying to fish the key out. Kokari starts crying, but Issun snaps him out of it and convinces him to try fishing. Amaterasu then uses her brush to create the line from the fishing rod to the fish. They eventually fish out the Giant Salmon, which coughs up the Ruins Key. Kokari tries to take it, but Amaterasu grabs it instead and enters the ruins with Issun.

Inside the ruins, they discover the ruins' water supply is contaminated with a deadly poison which also destroys Water Lily pads, making it impossible to swim across or walk across. After exploring more of the ruins, they clear the poisonous water and regain the last Hanagami flora Brush Technique, Vine, from Tsutagami in a cave in the